Todd Palin To Fill In For Sarah At DC Dinner

JUNEAU, Alaska — Flooding in her home state has forced Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to cancel an appearance at the White House Correspondents Dinner.

Palin told reporters Thursday that she would skip her planned East Coast trip so she could visit parts of Alaska that have been struggling with the most serious flooding in decades.

In addition to attending the dinner Saturday _ a mix of Washington elite, White House press corps and Hollywood celebrities _ the former Republican vice presidential candidate was scheduled to promote Alaska seafood at an appearance in New York.

The governor's husband, Todd Palin, planned to take her place at both the dinner and New York event.